Compare · public school teachers
Australian Capital Territory vs Northern Territory: teacher pay 2026
The ACT's rates are in dispute, so this page doesn't say which pays more.
Which pays more?
Australian Capital Territory: rates in dispute: not ranked. Offer not accepted, dispute continuing
Australian Capital Territory
Rates since 4 Dec 2025. The Australian Capital Territory page
Northern Territory
Rates since 1 Jan 2026. The Northern Territory page
| Figure | ACT | NT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| First year | $91,396 | $96,180 | not compared |
| Top of the classroom scale | $129,106 | $136,997 | not compared |
| Steps to the top | 8 levels | 9 levels | — |
Not compared: the Australian Capital Territory's rates are in dispute. Disputed and proposed rates are never ranked.
Base salary for public school teachers at today's rates, before tax. Differences only where both states' rates are decided.
After tax, and the dates
Australian Capital Territory
Rates since 4 Dec 2025. The Australian Capital Territory page
Northern Territory
Rates since 1 Jan 2026. The Northern Territory page
Side by side, as usual
What happens next with pay?
Australian Capital Territory
Being decided
Offer not accepted, dispute continuing
What happens next in Australian Capital TerritoryNorthern Territory
4.3% from 1 Jan 2027
Printed in the Northern Territory Public Sector Educators' 2024–2027 Enterprise Agreement (FWC AE526566)
What happens next in Northern TerritoryEmployer super
Registering to teach
Australian Capital Territory
$115 each year. Source
Northern Territory
More than one fee applies: see the state page.
Country and remote schools
Australian Capital Territory
No country or remote allowances on record for Australian Capital Territory public schools.
What each school gets, on the Pay mapNorthern Territory
4 payments for country and remote schools, on top of salary.
What each school gets, on the Pay mapMoving between ACT and NT
Moving from ACT to NT
Start at CT1, up to CT9 · Years counted
Experienced teachers are placed by completed years of service after qualifying. For example, a teacher with one year of experience starts on CT2. A year is 180 teaching days. The salary assessment procedure itself is not published. Source
The Northern Territory rule · Compare every state on Moving states
Moving from NT to ACT
Start at Level 1, up to Level 8 · Assessed case by case
Prior experience is recognised in full years, including work outside teaching. The detailed guidelines are not published. Source
The Australian Capital Territory rule · Compare every state on Moving states
Also shown, not compared
What do relief and casual teachers earn?
Every step, side by side
Australian Capital Territory
Level 8 · top
$3,728 a fortnight after tax
$3,728 a fortnight after tax
+$1,830
Level 7
$3,681 a fortnight after tax
$3,681 a fortnight after tax
+$7,174
Level 6
$3,494 a fortnight after tax
$3,494 a fortnight after tax
+$7,178
Level 5
$3,307 a fortnight after tax
$3,307 a fortnight after tax
+$4,305
Level 4
$3,194 a fortnight after tax
$3,194 a fortnight after tax
+$4,305
Level 3
$3,082 a fortnight after tax
$3,082 a fortnight after tax
+$4,308
Level 2
$2,970 a fortnight after tax
$2,970 a fortnight after tax
+$8,610
Level 1 · first year
$2,746 a fortnight after tax
$2,746 a fortnight after tax
Northern Territory
CT9 · top
$3,929 a fortnight after tax
$3,929 a fortnight after tax
+$5,648
CT8
$3,787 a fortnight after tax
$3,787 a fortnight after tax
+$4,594
CT7
$3,667 a fortnight after tax
$3,667 a fortnight after tax
+$4,593
CT6
$3,547 a fortnight after tax
$3,547 a fortnight after tax
+$4,595
CT5
$3,428 a fortnight after tax
$3,428 a fortnight after tax
+$7,605
CT4
$3,229 a fortnight after tax
$3,229 a fortnight after tax
+$4,593
CT3
$3,110 a fortnight after tax
$3,110 a fortnight after tax
+$4,592
CT2
$2,990 a fortnight after tax
$2,990 a fortnight after tax
+$4,597
CT1 · first year
$2,870 a fortnight after tax
$2,870 a fortnight after tax
Steps aren't the same length in each state, so compare first year and top rather than step by step.
See sources (9) ▾Hide sources ▴
- ACT Education Directorate: Pay and benefits (as at 4 Dec 2025)
- ACT Government / Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate: ACT Public Sector Education Directorate (Teaching Staff) Enterprise Agreement 2023-2026 (as at 5 Jan 2023)
- ACT Government / Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate: ACT Public Sector Education Directorate (Teaching Staff) Enterprise Agreement 2023-2026 — Annex A (as at 4 Dec 2025)
- ACT Government / Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate: Explanatory Notes: Education Directorate (Teaching Staff) Enterprise Agreement 2023-2026 (issued June 2023)
- Fair Work Commission: Catholic Schools (Northern Territory) Collective Enterprise Agreement 2025 (AE530890) (as at 31 Oct 2025)
- Fair Work Commission: NSW and ACT Catholic Systemic Schools Enterprise Agreement 2025 (AE531578) (as at 24 Dec 2025)
- Fair Work Commission: Teachers (Daramalan College, Marist College Canberra, and St Edmund's College, Canberra) Multi-Enterprise Agreement 2025 (AE529321) (as at 18 Jun 2025)
- NT Department of Education: Northern Territory Teacher Salaries & Allowances (as at 1 Jan 2026)
- NT Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment: Northern Territory Public Sector Educators 2024-2027 Enterprise Agreement (as at 11 Oct 2024)